WORLD'S AIR FORCES
F-14 Tomcats are thought to be flying, emp
loyed in the air base defence role, but as a
weapon system the F-14's potential is prob
ably strictly limited. The six P-3F Orions
have been seen regularly patrolling the
Gulf, and most of the transport fleet is also
flyable.
The Iranian Army has now received all 96
of its Chinooks, all but 20 from Meridional!,
and most are believed to be serviceable. It
seems unlikely that many of the Cobras or
Bell 214s are operational, and those that are
flying are probably doing so as a result of
the canibalisation of others in the respective
fleets. The Navy has fared little better
although four Italian SH-3Ds were received
in April 1981, indicating that this type is
flying limited ASW operations over the
Gulf. The table shows equipment in service
at the time of the revolution:
Type No Role
F-14A Tomcat
F-4D/E Phantom
RF-4E Phantom
F-5E/F
P-3F Orion
Boeing 707-3J9C
Boeing 747F
C-130E Hercules
C-130H Hercules
F.27-4O0M/600 Friendship
Aero Commander 690
Falcon 20
Bell 214C
AB.205/206
AB.212
AS-61A-4
F.33A/C Bonanza
Navy
SH-3D Sea King
AB.205/206
AB.212
RH-53D Sea Stallion
Shrike Commander
Falcon 20
F.27-400MS00 Friendship
Army
CH-47C Chinook
AH-1J Cobra
Bell 214A
Cessna 1851310
Cessna 0-2A
F.27-400M/600 Friendship
Falcon 20
75
32/174
12
28/138
6
14
11
20
30
13/5
3
3
39
45/70
5
2
10139
6
6
4
2/2
96
202
287
40*
10
1/1
2
Int
F-B
Recce
FB
ASW
Tanker
Trans
Trans
Trans
Trans/VIP
Liaison
VIP
SAR
Liaison
Liaison
VIP
Train
ASW
Liaison
Liaison
Mine sweep
Liaison
VIP
Trans
Trans
Anti-tank
Utility
Liaison
AOP
Trans
VIP
Iraq
Al Quwwat Aljawwiya Aliraquiya In
comparison with her enemy Iran, Iraq con
tinues to order new equipment for her
armed forces. Shopping around the world's
arms markets, the Iraqi Air Force is cur
rently purchasing aircraft and missiles from
Western Europe. This is in contrast with a
few years ago, when Iraq's main supplier
was Russia. In an "arms for oil" deal,
France is delivering more Mirage F.ls to
the IAF, plus Magic AAMs and air-launched
Exocets. A much reported request for five
Super Etendards is being met by the loan of
French Navy aircraft for a two-year period.
An interesting technical development is the
fitting of Magic missiles to Soviet MiGs in
place of the Atolls previously carried. MBB
in West Germany has also benefited in the
form of Iraqi orders for 18 BO 105 helicop
ters, possibly delivered with HOT anti-tank
missiles.
With nearly 40 different types of aircraft
in service, the wisdom of ordering more
seems unwise. Yet it would appear that
negotiations are continuing with Embraer of
Brazil for the purchase of up to 80 Tucanos,
[i****,^
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dp*. m
SIHIlll
Irish Air Corps Aerospatiale SA.342L Gazelles
with an option on a further 20. The acquisi
tion of 48 PC-7s for the advanced training
role must pose the question — why so many
different types of training aircraft, espe
cially when many Iraqi students train over
seas?
Combat operations by the Iraqi Air Force
are mainly conducted by Support Command
in concert with the ground forces. MiG-23s
and Mirage F.ls have been seen in action,
and the IAF has achieved some success with
Exocet missiles, sinking at least two Iranian
ships. This year 24 more Mirage F.ls are
being delivered against total Iraqi orders for
89 aircraft (30 +24+29 F.1EQ and six
F.1BQ trainers).
Type Role
Tu-22 Blinder 12 Bomber
Tu-16 Badger 8 Bomber
MiG-25 Foxbat 10/18 Int/recce
MiG-23BM Flogger 80 Attack
MiG-21PFM/MF Fishbed 90 Int
MiG-21U Mongol 6 Train
MiG-19 Farmer 40 Int
MiG-17F Fresco 30 F-B
Su-7B/22 Fitter 50/35 F-B
Mirage F.I EQ 83 ordered F-B
Mirage F.I BQ 6 Train
Hunter FGA.9/FR.10 30 F-B
Jet Provost T.52 16 Coin
An-12 Cub 6 Trans
An-24 Coke 10 Trans
An-26 Curl 2 Trans
An-2 Colt 10 Trans
11-14 Crate 3 Trans
II 76 Candid 7 Trans
Tu-124Cookpot 2 VIP
B-N Islander Utility
Falcon 20 1 VIP
Alouette III 40 Liaison
SA.341 Gazelle 20 Liaison
SA.342L Gazelle 40 Liaison
SA.330 Puma 20Q Trans/VIP
SA.321 Super Frelon 9 Anti-ship
Wessex Mk 52 12 Trans
Hughes 500D 32 Liaison
AS-61TS 6 VIP/utility
BO105 18 Anti-tank
Mi-1 (4 Hare/Hound 4/35 Utility
Mi-8 Hip 50+ Trans/VIP
Mi-6 Hook 15 Trans
Mi-24 Hind 20+ Attack
AS.202 Bravo 48 Train
PC-7 Turbo Trainer 48 Train
L-39ZO Albatros 24 Train
MiG-15UTI Midget 30 Train
Ireland
Irish Air Corps The IAC has its headquar
ters at Parkgate, Dublin, and operates from
two main bases at Casement Aerodrome,
Baldonnel, and Gormanston, Co Meath. its
main duties are support for ground forces,
fishery protection, SAR, civil and VIP
transport. Fixed-wing aircraft comprise an
advanced training/Coin element of six
armed Fouga Magisters with nine
SF.260WE Warriors for basic training.
Seven Cessna FR.172Hs and a FR.172K of
No 2 Support Wing are flown on military
co-operation duties from Gormanston. A
maritime patrol capability was added in
1979, when two Beech Super King Air 200s
were delivered, followed by a third in 1980
for the twin-training role.
No 1 Support Wing, Baldonnel, has the
Helicopter Sqn with Alouette Ills divided
into a border surveillance flight and a sup
port flight. There are also two Gazelles in
an Advanced Training Flight. The single
Puma, previously flown by the Ethiopian
AF and leased by the IAC, has been
returned to France. Five Dauphin 2s are on
order for delivery in 1984-85; two for use
aboard the two P31-class frigates now being
built, and three to replace the Alouette Ills.
Type
CM.170 Magister
SF.260WE Warrior
Cessna 172H/K Rocket
Super King Air 200
HS.125-700B
Alouette III
SA.342L Gazelle
SA.365N Dauphin 2
6
9
7/1
2/1
1
8
2
Train/coin
Train/coin
Liaison/AOP
MP/train
VIP
SAR/utility
Train
5 ordered SAR/utility
Israel
Israel Defence Force / Air Force (Heyl
Ha 'Avir) Design development of the Lavi
fighter-bomber is now under way, with con
tracts let to Grumman Aircraft in the USA
for major parts of the aircraft's composite
structure. The first flight of the canard fly-
352 FLIGHT International. 6 August 1983